Cavaletto Urges Governor to Sign Concealed Carry Legislation

State Representative John Cavaletto (R-Salem) has sent a letter to the Governor urging him to sign legislation enacting concealed carry in Illinois following multiple counties around the state stating they won’t prosecute citizens caught carrying weapons.

“I want to see everyone in Illinois be able to exercise their Second Amendment rights, but we have to have a uniform code.  The Governor’s slow action regarding House Bill 183 has caused many county states attorneys to create their own versions of a concealed carry law.  We deserve concealed carry but we don’t need the confusion that will come with 102 counties all doing different things while waiting for the Governor,” Rep. Cavaletto said.

Since House Bill 183 was passed by the General Assembly enacting concealed carry, multiple states attorneys in Illinois have said they won’t prosecute citizens carrying concealed weapons.  This has led to a dispute in some cases with the State Police who have said they will continue to enforce the law as it is currently, not allowing for concealed carry.  Rep. Cavaletto said the Governor is complicating the situation by delaying the signing of the bill.

“The Governor has muddied the waters and further complicated what was already a complicated issue.  We’ve got the State Police saying you will be arrested if you’re caught carrying a concealed weapon, but then the states attorneys are saying they won’t prosecute the charges.  People don’t know what to do and the only person who can fix that is the Governor by signing House Bill 183,” Rep. Cavaletto said.

In December 2012, the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals reaffirmed the Second Amendment by throwing out the State of Illinois’ concealed carry ban.  As requested by the Court of Appeals, the Illinois General Assembly approved bi-partisan legislation outlined in HB 183 to allow law-abiding citizens the right to conceal and carry a firearm. If signed by the Governor, Illinois would become the 50th state in the nation to place some form of concealed carry law on the books.

“I’m asking the Governor to do the right thing and support our Second Amendment rights.  I’m asking him to sign HB 183 and enact concealed carry in Illinois,” Rep. Cavaletto said.